Breech-loading fire-arm



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

R. S. OHAFFEE. 4

BREEOH LOADING FIRE ARM.

Patented May 25, 1886.

(No Model-L) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. S. GHAFPEE. BRBEGH LOADING FIRE ARM. No. 342,328.

v Patented May 25, 1886.

:I'LL/Eh 2 22:-

Nirsn TAIES A'IENI Fries.

REUBEN SHIPLEY CHAFFEE, OF' SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-TENTH TO THE WINCHESTER REPEAT ING ARMS COMPANY, OF'NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

'BRE cH- LoAomo FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 342,328, dated May 25, 1886.

Application filed June 24, 1885. Serial No. 169,649. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN SHIPLEY CHAF- FEE, ofSpringfield, in the county of Saugainon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Fire-Ar1ns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and useit, reference being had to the accompa-' nying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in breech -l0ading fire -arms, and is intended especially to be used as a magazine-shotgun, but is also adapted for rifles and revolvers; and it consists in, first, the combination of the magazine, which is placed under the barrel, loadingbars which are placed therein, a handhold which is connected to one of the loadingbars for the purpose of operating it, a plate connected to the hand-hold, and the firing bolt, which is moved back and forth with the plate; second, the combination of the handhold, the loading-bars, the magazine, and the firing-bolt, which is connected to the plate,.one of the parts of the firing-bolt being grooved, and the other part provided with a stud or projection to catch in the groove, for the purpose of turning the boltwhen pushed forward in position, third, a covering-plate which extends over the firing-bolt and the top of the receiver, for the purpose of protecting the bolt from the 'weather, dust, and dirt, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a covering-plate which will bothcover and operate the firing-bolt, and to move the cartridges from the magazine into the receiver .by means of a hand-hold which moves upon the under side of the rear end of the barrel, and thus enable the gun to be fired repeatedly without lowering it from the shoulder.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gun embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, the firing-bolt being moved back. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the fire-arm. Figs. 4', 6, 7, Stare detail views of the same. Figs. 5 and 9 show a modification of my invention.

the magazine B formed under the barrel. This magazine will be of a length proportioned to the number of times the fire-arm is to be fired without reloading. In this magazine are placed two loading-bars, D 131, both of which are notched along their top edges, for the purpose of holding the cartridge in position, and thus preventing them from striking one upon the other. The bar E is stationary, while the one, D, is movable back and forth, being connected by means of the slotted rod Fwith the hand-hold G. This connecting-rod has a notch formed in its rear end, to engage with a projection, a, upon the under side of the rear end ofthe movable bar D, and has a slot, I, formed through its front end, where it is connected to the hand-hold G. The slot I is of a length proportioned to the movement of the hand-hold in moving the firing-bolt for the purpose of turning it down when the bolt is moved forward to close the receiver, or when the bolt is being turned upward for the purpose of being forced backward. A set-screw, K, passes through the hand-hold into the slot I, and this screw K allows the hand-hold to move back and forth the whole length of the slot without operating the loading-bars, both of which are held pressed upward in the magazine B by'means of the spring b, which is applied to their under sides. These springs keep the bars in contact with the cartridges, and thus prevent the cartridges from loosely moving about in the magazine with the movements of the gun.

Upon the rear end of the stationary bar E is pivoted a curved spring actuated arm, M, which serves to force the cartridge upward in the receiver after it has been carried backward by the movement of the hand-hold and the *movable loading bar D. As" each cartridge reaches the receiver, it is forced upward by the spring-actuated curved arm, the rear end being raised higher than the front one, so that when the rear end of the cartridge is struck by the front end of the bolt the cartridge is forced directly into the barrel. As the cartridge is forced back into the receiver, it is forced upon the top of the curved arm M, and

this arm serves totraise it in the receiver sufficiently high to have its front end point directly toward the barrel, and its rear end raised just high enough to be struck by the front end of the bolt as it is forced forward into position. The rear end of the cartridge is caused to rise upward by means of inclines 0, formed inside ofthe receiver, as is fully shown and described in a patent formerly granted to Connected to the hand-hold G by means of the two parallel arms or rods N, which extend along upon the opposite sides of the magazine,

is the coveringrplate 0-, which serves both to cover over the top of the firing-bolt for the purpose of protecting it from dampness, dust,

or dirt and for the purpose of operating it. This bolt 0 moves back and forth with the hand-hold G, and at no other time.

,The firing-bolt is formed of two pieces, QR, the one, Q, having a projection, S, which is .rigidly fastened to the rear end of the plate 0,

not effect any turning movement in the part B of the bolt until the bolt has been moved its full distance forward, and then a continued pressure upon the hand-ho1d,.and through it upon the plate 0, and the rear part of the bolt causes the part B of the bolt to turn down in the usual manner. When the handhold is forced backward, the first movement effected thereby is to cause the rear portion of the bolt, through the stud or projection which catches in the groove in the-part R, to turn the partR partially around, and then the whole bolt moves backward in astraight line. When the bolt is forced forward, ready to be fired, the sear catches against the front end of the flange W, which isconnected to the'firing-bolt, and stops all further forward movement of the bolt.-

The spring in the/bolt is then compressed and the firing-pin is then held-backward, ready to be fired. The forward movement of the two partsQ It of the bolt continues to their full extent while the bolt is being held stationary. When the trigger is pulled, the bolt is'forced forward by the spring, so as to explode the car-- t-rid'ge.

Also formed in the flange W is the half-cock notch, so that the bolt can be held back out ofeontaetwith the-cartridge; As the handle X is formed upon the rear end of the firing-bolt, and as the bolt has a moveinent of its own independently of the other covered by the plate 0, thus protecting these parts from dirt and moisture.

In Fig. 9, in addition to the handle X, is shown an additional handle in dotted lines, such as is used with the ordinary firing-bolts. In this case the plate 0 is slotted, as shown in Fig. 5, and when the handle is forced either forward or back, carrying theplate O with it, the slot in the plate causes the boltto partially revolve, either for the purpose of closing the breech or opening it, as may be desired. This plate 0 serves as a most perfect protector for the bolt and the receiver,-and may be used either in connection with the hand-hold G or with any gun in which a firing-bolt is employed The same effect can be produced in partially revolving the bolt by forming a stud or projection upon the part R of the bolt and forming a diagonal groove in the coveringplate 0. Either manner of operating the bolt may be used; but I prefer the one here shown, because the parts are more perfectly protected. The plate 0 need not be connected to the hand-hold, for the bolt can be operated by hand erable to use it in connection with the bandhold, it serves every use and function when used with the bolt alone.

By means of the construction here shown it will readily be seen that it is only necessary to operate the hand-hold by moving it back and forth and pulling the trigger 'to fire in rapid succession without lowering the gun or :vided with a magazine, of the loading-bars which are placed in the magazine'for moving the cartridges, a hand-hold which 'is located under and slides upon the gun-barrel, and which hand-hold is connected to one of the loading-bars a'nd'the firing-bolt, the hand-hold being connected to the firing-bolt by suitable connections which extend backward from the hand-hold and are connected to the top of the firing-bolt, substantially as shown.

.2. The combination of the firearm provided with a .magazine in which loading-bars are placed wit-h an endwise-moving hand=hold which is connected to one of the loading-bars,

hand-hold, and which extends backward, and is connected to and covers over the firing-bolt, substantially as described.

I 3. The combination of the covering-plate, which is moved back and forthwith the bolt,

the bolt, which is formed of two pieces, the

and a covering-plate which is connected to the.

.9 in the usual manner. While it is thought prefrear one of which is provided with a handle I arm M, the firing-bolt, and a connection be- 20 to which the covering-plate is secured, and a pin and groove for connecting the coveringplate to the front end of the bolt, which has a partially-revolving motion, whereby when the rear end of the bolt is moved the coveringplate causes the front end of the bolt to partially rotate, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the firing-bolt. which is formed of two parts, with the covering-plate, which is rigidly secured to the rear portion of the bolt, and a pin and groove for connecting the plate to the front portion of the bolt, the plate serving to operate the front portion of the bolt and as a covering for the receiver and bolt, substantially as specified.

5. The oombination,with themagazine-tube, the loadingbars D E,placed therein,the h andhold G, connecting-rod F, the spring-actuated tween the hand-hold and the bolt, substantially as shown.

, (i. In a magazine-loading fire-arm, the combination of the hand-hold the magazine, the loading-bars placed in the magazine, a connecting-rod between the hand-hold and one of the loading-bars, the spring-actuated arm for raising the cartridge upward in the receiver,

the firing-bolt, and the connections N 0 between the hand-hold and the bolt, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN SHIPLEY GIIAFFEE.

E. S. ELKIN. 

